Do you prepare months ahead for your vacation? Maybe you’ve been to that happy place on earth that lets you make dinner reservations six months in advance.
Here on 30A – you’ve entered the “beach-time” zone!
I hate to be the one to break it to you – there are limited options for the planning people.
There are approximately 129 restaurants, and only about 10% of them take reservations. Some do only open up their reservations seven days in advance to accept them, or there are ones that require a credit card to reserve them, and if you are a no-show – you will be charged (common in higher-end restaurants, but thankfully not every place does that.) A few have call-ahead seating. Some take reservations, but of course, limit how many they take nightly or are very specific about where you’ll be sitting (outside, at the bar, at a group/community table, etc.)
Dining out and having larger groups is the norm here during your vacation. So, if you were to reserve a spot at a restaurant and not show up, you are taking a coveted spot from someone and prime $$ from the restaurant.
Best advice, if you are dining somewhere and you don’t have a reservation – you have a few options:
- Go early – take advantage of happy hours for food and drinks
- Go at off times
- Be willing to split up your party – kids’ table, anyone?
- Go see the sunset, then go to dinner
- Go to dinner while everyone else is at sunset
- Get takeout and watch the sunset with your dinner
- Dine in – cook a meal together, get everyone involved*
- Hire someone to come in and prepare a meal for your group
travel30A HINT
“If you drive to your vacation spot and plan to cook a lot, bring your favorite non-perishable ingredients. Stores are well-stocked here, but save yourself the time, $ and searching aisles and bring your favorite spices or ingredients along. Take home what you don’t use. Even if it’s just one reusable bag full, you’ll be glad you have a few of your go-to items.”
Packing a “Picnic” Dinner is a great idea – please, no glass on the beach or bonfires. You need a permit for a bonfire, and several companies will do a bonfire for you AND cater (so you don’t have to get a permit). So there’s another option for a fun night! Several companies offer bonfire services, which you DO want to reserve in advance. The county only allows a certain number of permits per beach access. I believe the bonfire companies can only have the county pull the permit the week of the bonfire. So confirmation will still be the week you arrive, so be flexible. Be sure to ask about each bonfire company’s inclement weather clause.
Very few places deliver; there isn’t normal Grubhub or Doordash, and certainly not much “fast food.” So get rid of those expectations, settle in, and get ready to enjoy some of the most amazing restaurants created by people like you and me who had a dream and made it a reality – amazing food at amazing restaurants on the most beautiful beach!
- Be kind, patient, and polite! It goes a long way to making long lines and busy restaurants a more pleasant experience.
- Tip your servers well – if you are visiting 30A during high season – your wait staff and kitchen staff are working hard to ensure you have a great meal and experience!
- Have an idea for each evening, whether you are a party of one or a party of 10. Have that idea, and maybe one or two backup plans, and get everyone in your party in that mindset too; let them know this is the way it may go…{“hey everyone, have a snack before you leave the house while everyone is getting ready (Ladies, I see you!), in case we arrive, and there’s a long wait! “
- Finally, you have so many cuisines to choose from and some amazing fresh seafood to enjoy here on 30A – Don’t let the “on beach time” state of mind ruin your experience if you came with expectations of perfectly scheduled meals.
Below is a list of known restaurants that take reservations. If you have some to add, please email us and let us know!
